7 Aug | UPSC Current Affairs: Commemorative Stamps, GAIN, Miombo Forests, C-130J, Bailey Bridges, Sariska, and Indian Siris

UPSC GS 2

Commemorative Stamps

• News: Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Communications Minister Jyotiraditya  Scindia have released commemorative postage stamps celebrating the 33rd Olympics Paris 2024 in New Delhi.
• Overview of Commemorative Stamps
  • • Commemorative stamps are issued to mark significant events, prominent personalities, aspects of nature, beautiful or rare flora and fauna, environmental issues, agricultural activities, and various other subjects. 
    • These stamps are available exclusively at Philatelic Bureaux, counters, or through the Philatelic Deposit Account Scheme and are printed in limited quantities.

• Rules for Issuing Commemorative Postage Stamps
  • • Proposal Submissions: Any citizen of India can submit proposals for commemorative postage stamps.
    • Institutional Anniversaries: Stamps may be issued only for apex institutions or organizations on their 100th, 125th, or 150th anniversaries, not for the branches of these institutions.
    • Significant Institutions: The institution or organization must have national or international stature with a significant, well-recognized contribution to its field.
    • Living Personalities: Stamps will not be issued for living personalities. Only those of national or international importance are considered, and the occasion must be their birth centenary or 10th, 25th, 50th, or 100th death anniversary. Stamps may be issued no sooner than ten years after an individual’s death, with exceptions for personalities from Art, Culture, and Music.
    • Buildings and Monuments: Stamps can be issued to commemorate buildings or monuments on their centenary, 125th, or 150th anniversaries. The site must be a Heritage site of national or international importance or recognized by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Issuance Authority
  • • These stamps are released by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications.

Read also: Critical Minerals in India: A Comprehensive Overview | UPSC

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

• News:  A recent report by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition calls for nutrition investments in the agri-food sector, which it argues, can reduce gender inequalities, increase productivity, and enhance business resilience.
• Overview of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
  • • The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation established at the United Nations in 2002 to address malnutrition-related human suffering. 
• Mission and Objectives
  • • GAIN collaborates with governments, businesses, and civil society to enhance the affordability, availability, and desirability of healthier food choices. 
    • Its primary aim is to improve nutrition outcomes by increasing the consumption of nutritious and safe food, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Key Activities
  • • Public-Private Partnerships: GAIN mobilizes partnerships between public and private sectors to provide financial and technical support for delivering nutritious foods to at-risk populations.
    • Maternal and Infant Health: The organization promotes breastfeeding and supports specialized products for infants over six months and young children to improve maternal and infant health.
    • Agricultural Value Chains: GAIN partners with local businesses to enhance the quality of food along agricultural value chains.
• Reach and Impact
  • • GAIN-supported nutrition programs impact approximately 667 million vulnerable individuals across more than 30 countries.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

UPSC GS 3

Miombo Forest

• News: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) have signed agreements aimed at protecting the miombo forest.
• Overview of the Miombo Forest
  • • The Miombo forest is a significant biome that spans tropical and subtropical grasslands, bushlands, and savannahs. 
    • Covering nearly 2.7 million square kilometers across southern Africa, it stretches through countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Dominant Flora
  • • The Miombo woodlands are primarily characterized by the dominance of Brachystegia species. 
    • These trees are often found alone or in association with Julbernardia and Isoberlinia species.

• Ecological Importance
  • • This forest biome includes four bio-regions and plays a crucial role in sustaining the Greater Zambezi Basin, one of the most important transnational river systems in Africa. 
    • It also supports trade activities in the border region between Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
• Significance to Local Communities
  • • The Miombo forest is vital for millions of people living in rural areas. It provides essential resources such as firewood, food, and water, making it a cornerstone of local livelihoods.
• What is a Biome?
  • • Biome refers to the community of plants and animals that occur naturally in an area, often sharing common characteristics specific to that area.

C-130J Super Hercules

• News: C-130J Hercules departed from Bangladesh and is believed to be carrying Hasina.
• Overview of the C-130J Super Hercules
  • • The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin, a leading US security and aerospace company. 
    • It serves as the US Air Force’s principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft and represents the newest generation of the C-130 Hercules series. 
    • The C-130J is designed to perform tactical airlift missions, including airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas, and can operate from rough, unpaved runways.

• Key Features
  • • Crew Requirements: Operated by a minimal crew of three, including two pilots and one loadmaster.
    • Payload Capacity: Capable of carrying up to 19 tons.
    • Engines: Powered by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines.
    • Avionics: Equipped with digital avionics and Head-Up Displays (HUD) for each pilot.
    • Range: 6,852 km without payload.
    • Speed: 644 km/hr.
    • Endurance: Over 20 hours of flight time.
    • Operational Capability: Able to perform short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways.

Bailey Bridge

• News: The Indian Army erected a 190-foot Bailey bridge in Wayanad and it has been crucial in facilitating the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances.
• Bailey Bridge Overview
  • • A Bailey bridge is a type of modular bridge, meaning its parts are pre-built to require minimal construction work and can be assembled quickly when needed.
    •  It was invented by Donald Coleman Bailey, an English civil engineer, during World War II (1939-45).
• Construction and Operation
  • • The Bailey bridge consists of pre-fabricated light steel panels linked together through pins, which are large, screw-like objects. 
    • These pins help establish the guardrails of the bridge.
    • Beams are then placed through the guardrails to form the deck or path of the bridge. 
    • The beams are designed to lock into the guardrails, ensuring the bridge’s stability.

• Features
  • • The lightweight nature of the Bailey bridge parts allows for easy mobility and transportation. 
    • No heavy installation equipment is required, making it ideal for disaster relief situations and wartime logistics, as the parts can be transported in small trucks.

Read also: Frequent Rail Accidents in India: Causes and Mitigation | UPSC

Sariska Tiger Reserve

• News: The Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) has recommended a blanket ban on private vehicle movement in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
• Location: Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the biggest and the most renowned national park located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Tiger Reserve is nestled in the lap of Aravali hills.
• Establishment:  It was set up in 1955 in Sariska Forest as a wild life sanctuary and was pronounced a national park in 1979. It extends over a region of 882 km2.
• Importance: In 2009, Sariska became the first reserve in the world where tigers were successfully relocated.

• Tourist Attractions: It is famous for old temples, palaces, and lakes such as Pandu Pol, Bhangarh Fort, Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake, and JaiSamand Lake.
• Topography: Rocky landscape, scrub thorn arid forests, grasses, hilly cliffs, and semi deciduous wood. 
• Vegetation: Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Northern Tropical Thorn Forest.
• Flora: Dhok trees, salar, kadaya, gol, ber, Banyan, gugal, bamboo, kair, adusta, etc.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar. 

Indian Siris

• News:  A pall of gloom descended on Kumaradevam gram panchayat after the death of the century-old Indian siris tree. 
• Overview of Indian Siris
  • • Indian Siris, also known as Albizia lebbeck, is a tropical tree native to India and Southeast Asia. 
    • It belongs to the Fabaceae family and is recognized for its wide range of uses.

• Growing Conditions
  • • Climate: Prefers a warm and humid environment.
    • Soil Types: Adaptable to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soil.
• Features
  • • Height: Grows up to 15-20 meters tall.
    • Canopy: Wide-spreading, umbrella-shaped canopy.
    • Trunk: Typically straight with a diameter of up to 1 meter.
    • Leaves: Green, fern-like, and can grow up to 25 cm long.
    • Branching Pattern: Moderate to dense, with branches spreading outwards and upwards.
    • Flowers: Small, white, and fragrant, arranged in clusters.
• Ecological Role
  • • Nitrogen Fixation: Capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, enriching the soil and supporting other plant species.
    • Soil Conservation: Its extensive, shallow root system helps bind soil, making it effective for soil conservation and erosion control.